Elizabeth's Secret Garden

The memorial is located in Alexandria, Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C. If not traveling by car, you can take the metro. The monument is dedicated to our first president, George Washington. It is 333 feet tall and overlooks the Potomac river. It was patterned after the Lighthouse of Alexandria. A 36 acre plot of land was originally purchase by Masons. The first cornerstone was laid in 1923. Its winter hours, October 1 through March 31, are 10:00am with closing at 4:00pm. On Sunday it is open 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Website: http://gwmemorial.org/    This room is a replica of the Alexandria-Washington Replica Lodge as it was back in 1802. It is now a museum room where visitors can see original furniture and paintings from that time period. This chair is one of the antique furniture pieces in the room. As you enter the Masonic Memorial, several colorful stain glass windows embellish the walls. From Benjamin Franklin to General Lafayette, each window h...

      The National Air and Space Museum has the largest historic collection of aircraft and spacecraft and in addition to that it is the second-most popular of the Smithsonian museums! It is easy to believe that the space reaches an area of 161,145 square feet when it is taken into account that full size aircraft are suspended from the ceiling and displayed on the floor level. This museum is a great place to brush up on aircraft history. Wikepedia was helpful in supplying facts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Air_and_Space_Museum Also visit the official website: http://www.nasm.si.edu/   The interactive exhibits make a visit to the Air and Space museum more exciting. This exhibit allows visitors a glimpse of the inside of an aircraft.   The Spirit of St Louis hangs suspended from the ceiling of the National Air and Space Museum. The aerial view provides a different perspective. It can be viewed from both the first and second floors. Bef...

The National Gallery of Art was our next tour during our family journey in Washington D.C. It was created in 1937 for the people of the United States by a joint resolution of Congress. It was made possible through the gift of financier and art collector Andrew W. Mellon. Now, join me, as I take you through this unique collection of sculptures. The “ Spider ” by Louise Bourgeois, reminds me of a Daddy Long Leg on the prowl! Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about my paths crossing this large specimen. Only in the movies would I worry about that sort of occurrence. This is my favorite sculpture and is called “Thinker on a Rock”. It was created by Barry Flanagon. It is a nice twist to the famous sculpture by Auguste Rodin called “ The Thinker” which is located in Paris. The Pavilion Cafe is becomingly placed amidst the sculpture garden. The menu includes salads, sandwiches, pizza, and beverages. It is a nice place to rest and relax while you get a bite to eat. As a bonus,...

Standing in front of the U.S. Capitol was something I will never forget. This is where many of the most important decisions of country are made. I was excited we discovered that touring the Capitol is free! We made it just in time for the next tour. You can book your own tour at the link below. http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/visit/book_a_tour/index.html Upon approaching the U.S. Capitol, its extreme size becomes apparent. It has 540 rooms that are divided amongst five levels. Each floor is dedicated to a different purpose. First, the ground floor hosts the Congressional office. Going upwards to the second floor in the south wing is the chambers of the House of Representatives and in the north wing is the Senate. The third floor is where Congress goes when in session. The area where we were able to tour for free is known as the Rotunda which is under the dome in the center of the Capitol Building. Continuing below, you can view this level. Here on the ceiling of the Rotun...

When visiting Washington D.C, it can be difficult at times to decide what to visit. In future blog entries, I will allow you to experience the many sites we were privileged to see. I hope my pictures give you a sense of participating in my tours and helps you decide what exhibits and museums you may wish to visit in the future. This blog entry will take you through the United States Botanic Garden. They are actively working in partnership with programs to conserve threatened plants. One of their goals is to educate visitors about plant conservation. The following picture will reveal how they have made their gardens sustainable and more eco-friendly.     The clear glass allows sunlight to radiate into conservatory. High-efficiency fans move with high velocity, but use minimal energy when compared with the traditional paddle fans. The flow of air helps to the plants healthy and vigorous. Upon entering each exhibit, a sign displays the habitat. World Deserts, Medicin...